Clutch control means



Dec. 3o, 1941. w. P. scHMlm-:R ETAL CLUTCH CONTROL VMEANS Patented Dec. 30, 1941 CLUTCH CONTROL MEANS Walter P. Schmitter, Wauwatosa, and Daniel M. Schwartz, Shorewood, Wis., assignors to The Falk Corporation, 4Milw tion voi' Wisconsin aukce, Wis., a. corpora-` Application Aumi 19, 1940, seran No.' ssazzi icl.' isz-.87)

. 9 Claims.

Thissinvention .relates tocontrol means for iluid pressure clutches.

In the copending application of Walter P. Schmitter, Serial No. 301,930, filed October 30, 1939, a power transmission is disclosed driven and controlled by a pair of selectively operable coaxial clutches arranged side by side. Each of the clutches therein disclosed includes a fluid pressure gland expansible'to close the clutch, the glands of the clutches being separately controlled vby fluid conducting means extending axially vthrough both clutches.

I trol valve immediately adjacent the fluid pressure element of the clutch. This is important for prompt action particularly whenthe huid pres-- sure element and fluid conducting means are of `substantial capacity. This we have accomplished by an arrangement wherein the clutch control valve is disposed substantiallyrv at the periphery of the clutch.

Another object is to provide in a clutch controller of the character mentioned reliable means for controlling a peripherally disposed clutch valve while the clutch is in operation.

Another object is to'utilize the uid conductingmeans as a controller for a peripherally disposedl clutch valve.

Another object is to provide an improved unitary means for the simultaneous control of a pair of adjacent selectively operable fluid pressure clutches.

Another object is to provide a power actuated means for-the simultaneous control of a pair of adjacent selectively operable clutches.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear :from the following description of a clutch controller constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The single gure of the accompanying drawing is a sectional view of axclutch controller embodying the present invention v and shown appliedtoan' adjacent fluid pressure clutches The two clutches shown are of the .type disengaged by the surrounding gland I5 or I6, all as disclosed in the copending application above identified. 4

In this instancethe gland I5is controlled by a valve I9 and gland I9 by a similar4 valve 20, both valves being.' carried by an end ofthe drum I0 at diametrically opposite points on the periphery thereof. Eachof the valves I9 and 2II includes a rod 2I extending rearwardly through and from the ring I4 and anchored thereto by appropriate means such as clamp nuts-22 threaded thereon. The-rod 2l of valve I9 is provided with a longitudinal duct 23 inits forward end which communicates with the gland I5 through appropriate means such as a fitting 24 and nipple 25;., and the rod 2| of valve 2U is provided with a similar duct 26 which communicates with the gland I6 through la tting 21 and nipple 28.

The valve I9 also includes'a head 29 closely fitted to'slide along the rod 2I between the adjacent nut 22 and a limiting stop in the form of a nut 30 on the rear end of the rod. In that end of the head 29 adjacent the nut 22 is a chamber 3l closedby a flanged ring 32 and sealed by appropriate spring pressed end sealsl 33 surrounding the rod. AThe arrangement is such that, when the head 29 is in the forward position shown, the chamber 3| therein communicates Vwith the duct 23 through radial ports 34 in the roti 2I, but when shifted rearwardly against the stop 4.nut 30 the ports 34 are uncovered by the head, and 4the duct 23, and consequently the gland I5, are open to the atmosphere.

pair of selectively operable closed in the pending `'application hereinabove identified. They,v include a driving drum I0,

Awhich is common to both, and which is'made up of two attached anged ring sections II and I2 The valve 20 also includes a) similar head 35 having a similar chamber 36 arranged in that end thereof toward a similar stop nut- 31 but adapted to communicate with the duct'26 through ports 38 when'the head is shifted rearwardly against the nut 31. forward position shown, the ports 38 are uncovered and the duct 26 and gland to the atmosphere.

The heads 29 and 35 of both valves are rigidly connected to pipes 39 which in turn are rigidly connected with a pipe 40 disposed axially of the clutches and extending loosely therethrough. This system of pipes'functions as an actuator and controller for the valves and also as a means for conducting fluid pressure thereto, the chambers 3l and 33 in the heads being connected to the pipes 39 through ports 4I, and the forward end of pipe ,40 being connectable to any appropriate source of fluid pressure through an ap propriate connection 42. l y

It will of course be understood thatthe pipe 40 and connected pipes 39. rotate as a unit with the driving clutch drum I2 and that they are also shiftable axially of the drum to effect simulalong their supporting rods 2 I.

With the head 354m the4 I6 are open This axial shifting of the pipe 40 may be accomplished manually but in this instance uid pressure means is provided for that purpose.

'I'he means shown comprises a stationary cylinder 43 closed at its rear end by a supporting disk 5 44 xed thereto'and attached to a suitable part 45 of the transmission housing. The forward end head 46 ofthe cylinder contains a duct 41 communicating with the interior thereof and having a 'central opening to accommodate the l0 projecting end of the sleeve 48 of a piston v49. The rear end ofthe piston sleeve 48 is attached to a Supporting sleeve 50, and a cup packing 5I therebetween provides a seal between the piston and cylinder. The sleeve 50 is guided in an ari- 15 propriate opening in the end disk 44 and is urged forwardly by a surrounding .spring 52 .confined ,between the disk 44 and a ange 53 on the sleeve. Theforward end of the pipe 4U is supported by an end thrust bearing 54V axially xed thereto 20 and to the sleeve 50, so that the pipe 40 is free to rotate vwith respect to the sleeve but4 is restrained to move longitudinally therewith. Fluid pressure may be supplied to the cylinder through a suitable connection 55 communicating with the 25 duct 41.

vThe arrangement is .such thatv the spring 52 yieldably retains the piston 49 in' the forward position shown, in which position the pipes 40 and 39 and'valve heads 29 and 35 are in the ad- 30 vaned position shown, with the gland I5 in communication with the pipes through the ports 4I and 34 and duct 23, and with the gland I6 Open 'to the atmosphere through the duct 26 and ports as. with the ports thus disposed and with fluid 35 pressure in the pipe 40., the gland I6 is of course deflated and the gland I5 expanded into gripping engagement with the clutch drum I1 by the uid pressure transmitted through the duct 23.

By admitting fluid pressure through the con- 40 nection 55 and duct 41, the piston 49 is forced rearwardly, thereby shifting the pipes 40 and 39 and valve heads 29 and 35 rearwardly until engaged by the stop nuts 30 and 31, in Whichposition the gland I5 is promptly deflated by ex-', 4 5

hausting through the duct 23 and adjacent ports 34, and the gland I6 is promptly expanded into gripping engagement with .the drum I8 by the admission thereto of fluid pressure from the pipes 40 and 39 through ports .4I and 38, and duct 26. .50

It will thus be understood that so long as fluid I pressure is present in the pipe 40, one or the other of the .clutch glands I5 or I6 will be expanded and the other deflated, so that one. or the other of the clutches is closed and the other open, dependent upon whether the connection 55 is exposed to fluid pressure or open to exhaust; and

that regardless ofthe condition of the conduit 55both clutch glands I5 and I6 will be deflated and both clutches open whenever the connection 96,0

sure clutch, of a control valve therefor disposed adjacent the periphery thereof, ,and means for conducting' fluid pressure to said valve, said means including a member rotatable with said clutch and-moveable relative thereto for operating said valve.

'2. The combination with a rotary clutch havingI a iuidpressure chamber, of a control valve disposed adjacent the periphery thereof and having a duct communicating with said chamber,

means for conducting uid pressure to said duct, said means including a member rotatable with said clutch and moveablerelative thereto to selectively make or break communication between said means and said duct; l

tively moveable to connect said chamber to said fluid conducting means or to the atmosphere, selectively, said fluid conducting mears including a member rotatable with said clutch and moveable erate said valve.

-5. The combination withtwo 'rotary fluid pressure clutches, of separate valves for controlling said clutches, and means for conducting uid pressure to both of said valves, said means including a uid-containing member moveable to operate both of said valves.

6. 'Ihe co'mbination with two rotary iiuid pressure clutches, of separate valves for controlling said clutches, said valves being spaced apart adjacent the periphery of said clutches, and uid conducting means connected with both of said valves and moveable to operate the same. v

7. The combination with two rotary uid pressure clutches, of separate valves -forcontrolling said clutches, said valves being disposed at diametrically spaced positions along the periphery of said clutches, and fluid conducting means connected with said valves and moveable to operate the same, said means including a member coaxially disposed with respect to said clutches.

8. The combination with twg rotary fluid pressure clutches, of separate valyes for controlling said clutches, one of said valves including an element moveable in one direction to close its associated clutch and in the opposite direction to open the latter, the other of said valves including an element moveable in said first named direction to open its associated clutch and in the opposite direction to close the latter, and means containing a fluid pressure conduit for conducting fluid tosaid valves, said means being connected to both of said elements and moveable to actuate the same.V

9. The combination with two rotary fluid pressure clutches, of Avalve means for controlling the same, fluid conducting means connected with said valve means and moveable to operate the same, and fluid actuated means for actuating said conducting means.

DANIEL M. SCHWARTZ. WALTER P. SCHMI'ITER. 

